The Legend of the Corrib King Read Free Page B

suggested Tapser.
    Jamesie was examining the salmon’s mouth. ‘No sign of any hooks. But wait a minute, what’s this? It looks as if it choked on something.’
    The others watched as he extracted a crumpled ball of paper from the salmon’s gaping jaws. He smoothed it out and they saw the colour draining from his face.
    â€˜It’s a poem!’ he exclaimed.

2. THE MYSTERY OF THE JONAH FISH

    Big Jim spread the piece of paper on the table before him, read it again to himself, and handed it to Martin, saying, ‘Well, what do you think?’ They were all hoping that Martin, being a garda, might be able to give them an expert opinion.
    Martin pushed back his blue peaked cap and read the poem aloud:
    â€˜Beyond the Cross there lies the king,
Struck down by spears of man unseen.
In his drink a trap wine redd,
Too many wish that he was dead.
Seek not the pike that struck him down,
But the hand that seeks to take the crown …’
    â€˜There’s more of it on the other side,’ Big Jim told him.
    Turning the paper over, Martin continued:
    â€˜Fairies and witches, foxes in ditches,
Deadly the fingers that point to life’s riches.
Beneath tall spires of gold the Story is told,
Nymphs dance in the moonlight and secrets unfold …’
    â€˜Well?’ asked Mag anxiously.
    â€˜Sounds like him all right,’ Martin agreed.
    â€˜And it looks like his writing too,’ added Jamesie.
    â€˜Well, it’s very scribbled,’ said Martin.
    â€˜But what does it mean?’ asked Tapser.
    â€˜And how did it come to be in the salmon?’ wondered Cowlick.
    â€˜Well, if it was Pakie who wrote it,’ said Martin, ‘and there are no other poets around here that I know of, it might be something he just threw away and was picked up by the salmon.’
    â€˜But sure it’s hard enough to get them to take a piece of bait, let alone a ball of paper,’ argued Jamesie.
    Big Jim studied the poem again. ‘Jamesie thinks it might be some sort of mysterious message from Pakie. And you must admit, it’s very strange.’
    Martin smiled in a way that clearly showed he thought the idea was a bit far-fetched. ‘I suppose it is strange all right. But what would be the point in sending a message nobody can understand?’
    â€˜And in a dead fish,’ added Róisín. ‘I think the poor thing probably choked on it.’
    Martin winked. ‘That’s what it gets for going too near Illaun na Shee.’
    â€˜How do you mean?’ asked Cowlick.
    â€˜Illaun na Shee,’ repeated Martin. ‘Didn’t Jamesie tell you that it’s an enchanted island? Sure maybe the little people put a spell on it.’
    â€˜Now, Martin,’ said Mag, ‘that’s enough of that talk. Your brother’s bad enough without you making him worse.’
    â€˜What sort of talk?’ asked her sister.
    â€˜Oh, it’s all you ever hear about in this house, Mary. If Jamesie’s not talking about fishing, he’s talking about fairies and all that nonsense. Dear knows what visitors must think of us.’
    â€˜And where did he get it from,’ said Big Jim, ‘but your own brother Pakie. Isn’t he ten times worse?’
    Mag nodded with an air of resignation, and judging it was time to talk about something else, Dan asked, ‘Anyway, Martin, what’s new in the world of crime?’
    â€˜Ah, divil the thing, except for the salmon poaching.’
    â€˜And there’s not much new in that,’ remarked Big Jim.
    â€˜Is it much of a problem?’ asked Dan.
    â€˜Usually the poachers don’t bother us much up around here,’ Martin told him. ‘It’s more of a problem in the lower part of the lake, near Annaghdown. But after the waterkeepers went on strike a while back there’s been poaching everywhere. Several boats have been stolen. Even the nets the Inland Fisheries put down to catch